Lost Mode for iOS: how to use it to find your iPad or iPhone

iOS 6 and later iOS versions offer a new iCloud feature called Lost Mode. If your iOS device (iPhone, iPad or iPod touch) gets lost or stolen, you may use Lost Mode to remotely lock it with a passcode, display a custom on-screen message, and keep track of its physical location. If your phone ends up in someone else’s possession, this feature will let whoever is keeping your iPhone (or iPad) know they should call a specified number that you have chosen. In fact, calling this number from the iPhone becomes the only option available on the phone in Lost Mode, other than unlocking by entering the passcode. Here is how you can use Lost Mode:

How to enable and disable Lost Mode on iPhone and iPad

2.Visit iCloud.com on a PC or Mac and log in using your Apple ID and password (if you want to do this on your iOS device, see this article)

3.Choose “Find my iPhone/iPad”

4.Select your device that you want to place in Lost Mode from the top menu.

5.Click on the Lost Mode icon.

6.If you did not set up passcode lock on your device previously, you will be asked to lock your device by entering a passcode. If you had already enabled the passcode lock feature, you will be asked to enter a phone number (the next step). On your device, you (or whoever finds your device) will need to enter this passcode to exit Lost Mode.

7.You may enter a phone number. Calling this number will be the only option on the phone in Lost Mode. If you are placing an iPad in Lost Mode, you will be asked for a phone number where you can be reached.

8.Enter a message and choose Done.

Your iOS device will now be placed in Lost Mode. If somebody finds the phone, there are two options (a) calling the number you entered in step 5 or (b) unlocking the device by entering the passcode (the passcode that was set up initially or the one you created when enabling Lost Mode). Since the person who finds your phone will not know the passcode, the only available option is to call the number. However if you lost your phone, placed it in Lost Mode, and then later found it, you may just start using it by entering your passcode.

If you placed an iPad in Lost Mode, obviously whoever has your iPad cannot place a call using the iPad but he/she will see the phone number to contact you.

Entering the passcode on iPhone or iPad will turn off Lost Mode.

While your device is in Lost Mode, you may monitor its location with iCloud.com

How to disable Lost Mode

There are two ways to stop Lost Mode. The first one is that the phone exits Lost Mode when the passcode is entered and the second one is by going to iCloud.com and choosing Lost Mode then Stop Lost Mode option.

You will receive email updates from Apple when Lost Mode is enabled and when your phone is located.

Show 11 Comments

I have iphone 5s and i downloaded find my iphone unwanted i activate lost mode and i dont know how to turn off lost mode because from pc i can’t there is no option to just delete this device from my acount so shoult to enter from other device or what

Good Article. I have lost my iphone and found it after 4 months later, the one who stole it from me sold it to some one. The other guy who purchased from the thief called me and handed over my phone. As per your article i was trying to disable lost phone mode using icloud.com but i was not able to see “STOP LOST MODE” (img: https://appletoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/disable-lost-mode.png) option! 🙁 what should i do

I purchased 2nd hand phone in UK guy also he having latest model of Iphone..

I am trying to update software that time my phone is going to lost mode and contact *** number, i conducted that number he saying wrong number, i am trying to contact whom i purchased but i could not reach him, then i contacted him friend he said he lost the phone so you contact apple, but i contacted apple they said need to remove lost mode in i cloud.com

Never give up!! I recovered an iPod touch after 2 years when a person who had stollen it and never used internet connection cracked and erased it, but during setup accepted backups to iCloud and guess to whom account?? Mine!! I restored the backup to my new iPod and saw pictures of the person who took it and asked to get it back or else… And I got it back!

Here’s another obvious point: in the case of an iPad, you can only use Lost Mode if the iPad is connected to wifi or a cellular network. If the iPad is the wifi-only model, and it is not connected to wifi in the place where you lost it, then there is no way to monitor its location, right?

I think the phone number solution is pretty elegant. Consider the person who finds this phone. All he has to do is press to call your number. It is free and easy. What should he write in the email? You will want to speak to this person.

I’m probably missing something obvious here, but wouldn’t it make more sense to have someone email you regarding a lost iPhone? Considering, of course, that you don’t have the phone in your possession anymore. Yes, I suppose you could check your voicemail, that is, if you still had your phone! I don’t know anybody who can check their voicemail from someone else’s phone and actually know what their password is. And then you certainly wouldn’t be alerted in a timely fashion unless you go get another device and link it to your old phone number. Now you’ve got two phones!

I suppose you could post your email address in the message section, but why not just include that as the logical first option in the first contact window. Please explain.